Performer, Producer and TV Host

Cultural Producer and Performer Ryan Lanji has made a name for himself as a politically pioneering LGBTQ Activist based in London. In 2016 Lanji created HUNGAMA (East London’s Queer Bollywood Hip/Hop night) capturing the world’s attention by championing a rare space within the queer and creative South Asian community. The success has also taken Ryan’s work to the Ministry of Sound, British Vogue, The V&A, Soho House and Tate Modern.

Ryan is also the winning Champion of Netflix's 'The Big Flower Fight' released in 2020 and is now hosting the new BBC THREE series 'The Big Proud Party Agency'

We talked to Ryan about minority representation, responsible storytelling, diasporic community, belongings and more.

On becoming a multimedia artist —

I’ve always been a creative person who has found ways to curate happenings, exhibitions and events my whole life. When I was younger (in university) I would take over the school pub to host experiential dance parties and even before that I took great interest in helping my mom host her house parties for all my aunties and uncles. I think I always had a penchant for showcasing anything I found interesting. I at a young age would always be interested in how things were made, how they were conceived and why they existed. Fashion, Art and Culture were things that were never offered as an avenue for exploration as a young South Asian so it became things I wanted to discover, understand and unveil to anyone who was interested in me.

On performing —

Performing doesn’t come naturally to me, it’s been something I had to courageously embrace and finesse. After starting my Bollywood Club night HUNGAMA I had to grab the microphone on many occasions and create a more welcoming space, cause excitement and ‘work a crowd’. It wasn’t until ‘The Big Flower Fight’ releasing globally on Netflix that I was adored for my facial expressions, sassy retorts and accessibility when it came to helping people understand creativity and learn about culture and context.

On minority representation and responsible storytelling —

When I realised I was exhausted from existing as a fractured personality and wanted to exist as a whole person that my realisation of marginalised people began to galvanise. Telling people my story of subscribing to whiteness, being a good ‘straight presenting’ person and even suppressing my culture all became realisations and I started to become a mirror for my people and my community. I hate to use the word ‘role model’ but I literally had to become the change I wish to see in the world - a strong ally, a proud Queer South Asian and a Creative soul! Being creative at these things and excelling at them is the volume to my voice.

On activists and advocates that inspire —

I am inspired by people regularly. I feed off of it and synergising with a similar energy brings me so much joy. I adore DJ Chippy Nonstop for being a female van garde in the techno scene, I support and admire Lucia Blayke for being the founder of Trans Pride in London, in fact I am in awe of any trans person who exists in their community as it’s a radical act in itself. I am proud of anyone who is brave enough to accept that their way of thinking needs to change and has the impetus to unlearn.

On "The Big Proud Party Agency" TV Show, BBC Three —

I am very excited to be hosting the new unscripted reality series “The Big Proud Party Agency’ - It’s a show where people come to our agency to get help throwing a surprise party for a loved one. What is better than a Queer Party full of debauchery, colour, meaning and togetherness. It’s an exciting series were people can follow me through the planning process, trials, obstacles and successes of throwing a surprise queer party!

Advice to younger BIPOC creators trying to navigate the industry —

I think for anyone who is BIPOC or QTBIPOC it’s important to really find a way to nourish yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. Find your tribe by going to intentional spaces that are available and getting involved. Be mindful when you are staring at people on social media who make you feel inadequate and subvert that feeling by getting involved and creating opportunities and happenings. Don’t idolise anyone other than yourself and keep yourself in your zone of passion and genius.

Believe in yourself and the rest will come towards you. Learn to do what you are good at, not what you think you should be doing.

Current favourite film, podcasts and books —

My Favourite film at the moment is And then we danced, my favourite film of all time is Jurassic Park and my favourite romantic film is ‘The Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind’.

Podcast-wise I love listening to ‘The Hidden Brain’ and ‘Bad Gayz’ - The hidden brain is a look at the world and the situations we find ourselves in and how our brain is affected while ‘Bad Gayz’ is a podcast looking at Queer Antagonists or notrious queer people in history and understanding them better.

I have so many books on the go at the moment but ones I love are ‘Rainbow Milk’ by my friend Paul Mendez, Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn and my all time favourite self help book ‘The Big Leap’ By Gay Hendricks (this one saved my life).

Interview — Zeenat Wilkinson
Photography — Supplied by Ryan Lanji

Ryan Lanji